Blackdale School: Still Waiting for Decision
October 9, 2007 3:06 AM
A decision over the future of a school playing field in Norwich still hasn't been made - despite the expectation that an announcement would be made in May. Norfolk County Council has applied to sell the land at the site of Blackdale Middle School (which has now merged with Northfield Middle School), which is now being considered for final approval by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls. A Norwich campaigner is calling for a decision to be announced now.
The application to allow the land the be sold is currently being reviewed by the School Playing Fields Advisory Committee, a panel who advise the Secretary of State, and their recommendations were expected to be made during September.
Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, has written to the Department of Children, Schools and Families to urge the decision to be made public.
"This has gone on for too long," says Mr Wright. "Nearly a year ago, I sent hundreds of letters from local people calling for the land to be retained for community use. Many other petitions and campaigns have also taken place in that time. It is astonishing that we are still all kept waiting."
"My hope is that over the last year that the strength of public opinion has given the authorities reason to reject the release of this valuable green space for development."
"The County Council failed to submit sufficient information in the first place, which resulted in months of delay, and now I fear that the Department for Schools may be dragging its feet. I know that many local people care strongly about the future of these playing fields, and we all deserve to know now what that future will be."
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